Cattle guard



L. MAYER CATTLE GUARD Nov. 18, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Filed Sept. 6, 1951 INVENTOR 0a/.5 Myf@ l BY m w MMM ATTORNEYS L. MAYER CATTLE GUARD Nov. 18, 1952 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 Filed Sept. 6, 1951 INVENTOR 0a/5 Amr/m BYWLQMMW 3M www ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 18, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,618,469 CATTLE GUARD Louis Mayer, Whitewood, S. Dak.

Application September 6, 1951, Serial No. 245,331

3 Claims. l

when the soil and weather conditions require it.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved cattle guard which may be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled by one unskilled workman.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved device of this character in which the runners are spaced apart a sufcient distance to reveal the underlying pit to the cattle so that the cattle are fearful of falling into the pit and therefore avoid crossing the guard.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved structure in which the upper surfaces of the runners are rounded so that the hoofs of the cattle attempting to cross the guard will slide olf the rounded surface and into the spaces between the runners and the insecure footing thus afforded will cause the cattle to withdraw from the guard and avoid it in the future.

The present invention aims to provide an improved cattle guard in which the upper rounded surfaces of the runners and the spacing of the runners is such that a vehicle, such as an autoin construction, comprises relatively few parts and is economical to manufacture.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more fully de scribed and mo-re particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

VI'n the drawings, in which the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the several views,

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I I) indicates a gateway formed between posts II of a conventional wire fence, the horizontal wires I2 of which are secured to the posts II in any conventional manner. A pit or excavation I3 is formed in the ground I4 in the gateway I between the posts I I and extends to each side of the fence the desired distance. The sides of the pit may be walled up in any conventional manner to restrain the dirt from falling into and filling up the pit.

A supporting base generally indicated at I5 may be disposed across the upper portion of the pit and comprises a pair of end pieces I6, a pair of braces II and a pair of reinforcing strips Ila. The end pieces have sockets I8 spaced inwardly from their opposite ends and which open through the upper surfaces of the end pieces and extend through the inner and outer faces thereof.

The opposite end portions of the braces Il are cut away as indicated lat I9 to provide end portions 2i) of reduced height and outwardl;r facing shoulders 2|. The reduced end portions 2i] are received by the sockets I8 and the depth of the sockets and the height of the portions 20 are such that the upper surfaces of the pieces I6 and the portions 20 are substantially flush when the portions 20 are seated in the sockets. The width of the sockets I8 and the portions 20 are substantially the same so that when the portions 20 are seated in the sockets Athey have a tight fit with the sides of the sockets and relative movement between the pieces I6 and the braces I1 in the direction of length of the pieces I 6 will be prevented.

When the portions 20 are received by the sockets IB the shoulders 2| abut the inner faces of the end pieces I6 to prevent the end pieces from moving towards one another. When properly assembled the end pieces I6 will be disposed in spaced apart substantially parallel relation and the braces I'I will be disposed in Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved cattle guard constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrated as applied to a gateway in a fence,

ylfigure 2 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the improved device,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line spaced apart substantially parallel relation to one another and at substantially right angles to the inner faces of the end pieces.

A cattle guard unit is generally indicated at 25 and comprises a pair of side unit members 26, a plurality of runners 2'I, a pair of locking bars 28 and fastening elements generally indicated at 29. Each side unit member 26 is formed with a series of longitudinally spaced apart recesses 30, the bottoms and sides of which provide seats. The recesses open through the upper surfaces of the members 26 and extend through the inner and outer faces thereof. The side members are adapted to be positioned in spaced apart substantially parallel relation and the runners 21 which may be elongated have their opposite end portions received by the recesses 3U. The width of the runners and the recesses are substantially the same and the opposite sides of the recesses and the runners are straight so that when the end portions of the runners are received by the recesses they will have a tight t therein. The lower faces of the end portions of the runners and the bottoms of the recesses are at so that the runners have a firm purchase on the bottoms of the recesses.

The upper part of the opposite end portions of the runners 21 are cut away for a distance substantially equal to the width of each locking bar 28 to provide reduced end portions 21a having flat upper surfaces 211) for receiving the at bottom of each locking bar and an outwardly facing hat shoulder 21e for engaging the inner flat face of each locking bar.

The runners may be removably locked in the recesses 3D of the members 26 by the locking bars 28 which are adapted to be positioned in overlying engagement with the fiat upper surfaces 211) of the reduced end portions 21a ofthe runners in vertical alignment with the side members 26. The bars 28 are held securely in place by the fastening elements 29 which in the present illustration include substantially U-shaped tie bolts which are adapted to embrace the side members 26 at longitudinally spaced intervals. The elements 29 have legs 3| and Sla which engage the inner and outer faces of the members 26 and connecting portions 32 which engage the lower faces of the members 26.

The locking bars 28 have their outer faces substantially flush with the cuter faces of the members 26 but are wider than the members 26 and have portions 28a extending inwardly beyond the inner faces of the members 26. The portions 28a have through openings 33 formed therethrough which open into longitudinally spaced, apart notches 28h. The upper free end portions of the legs 3 I a extend through the openings 33 and have their upper ends disposed in the notches 2Gb. The upper free end portions of the legs 3l extend above the bottoms of the notches 28a of the bars 28 and outwardly thereof.

An apertured clamping plate 33a is received by the upper free end portions of the legs 3l and Sla of each fastening elements which are screw threaded to receive nuts 34 for firmly clamping the plate 33a against the bottom of its notch 28a. The upper ends of the legs 3l and 3Ia and the nuts 34 are disposed below the upper surfaces 28C of the locking bars 28 when fastening elements 29 are in operative position as illustrated in Figure of the drawings.

The base I5 is adapted to support the unit 25 and for this purpose the end pieces I6 and the side members 26 have cooperating notches SS and 31 formed therein. The notches 36 are formed in the end pieces I6 outwardly of the sockets I8 and open through the upper surfaces of the end pieces and extend through the inner and outer faces thereof.

The notches 31 are formed in the members `26 adjacent the opposite ends thereof and open through the lower surfaces of the members and extend through the inner and outer faces thereof. The notches 36 and 31 are of such a depth that the bottoms of the recesses of the members 26 are substantially flush with the upper surfaces of the braces I1 when the end pieces I6 and the members 26 are disposed in interlocking engagement as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings so that the lower faces of the runners 21 rest upon the upper surfaces of the braces when the device is in assembled operative position. The width of the notches 36 and 31 are substantially the same as that of the pieces I6 and the members 26 so that a tight fit is obtained when the end pieces and side members are in their interlocking positions. Such an arrangement will impart additional stability to the base I5 and the unit 25.

In the use of the device the parts may be assembled as described above in position above the pit I3 with strips I1a embedded in the ground and the end pieces I6 partially embedded in the ground beyond and adjacent the opposite ends of the pit. The end pieces I6 are supported and strengthened by the strips I1a and the strips I1a are Wider than the end pieces I6 so that they extend inwardly of the end pieces and engage and support the braces I1 adjacent the reduced end portions 2G thereof. This will relieve the end pieces I6 and the braces I1 from any strain or tendency to split off.

The unit 25 will be supported by the base I5 and extends through the gateway I0 from one end of the pit to the other. The device could be rst assembled and then placed in the position illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

The recesses or seats 36 are placed far enough apart so that the runners are spaced sufficiently to permit the cattle to see the pit and avoid crossing the guard for fear of falling into the pit. However,y the runners are close enough together to permit a vehicle, such as, an automobile, to pass over the guard and the upper faces of the runners are rounded as indicated at 38 to prevent injury to the tires of the vehicle. The fact that the ends of the legs 3| and 3Ia of the elements 29 and the nuts 34 are disposed below the upper surfaces 28o of the bars 28 will prevent them damaging the tires of the vehicle.

The more venturesome cattle will be prevented from crossing the cattle guard since the rounded surfaces 38 of the runners will cause the hoofs of the cattle to slide off the runners and the Spacing between adjacent runners is such that the hoofs of the cattle will be received between adjacent runners and the insecure footing thus afforded Vwill cause the cattle to withdraw from the guard and avoid itin the future.

When it is desired to clean out the pit the unit 25 may be lifted out of position in one piece by any suitable means, such as a piece of farm equipment having a hoisting mechanism including chains which may be hooked to the runners 21. If desired, for the purposes of moving the device to a new location or for replacing any of the parts which may be worn or damaged, the runners 21 may be removed by unscrewing the nuts 34 on the fastening elements 29 thereby loosening the locking bars 28 so that, one or all of the runners 21 may be removed from their seats 3U.

The base I5 and the unit 25 may be made from any suitable material, such as, wood or metal, and each runner and its seat on the base may be given corresponding numbers so that no difficulty results in replacement of the runners. Similarly, numbers may be placed upon the various members of the base. The improved cattle guard may be made of -any desired size, for example, seven feet long by nine feet wide.

While the improved cattle guard in the Dresent instance has been illustrated as used in connection with a gateway through a fence, i-t is to be understood that the improved device may be used in any other location desirable, such as, on a railroad track.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction and design `of the above specifically described embodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof, such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. A cattle guard adapted to overlie a pit formed in a gateway of a fence comprising a pair of spaced parallel end members disposed parallel with the fence, a pair of spaced parallel side members disposed transversely thereof and having ends overlying the ends of the end members, said end members and side members having cooperating notches formed in their upper and lower surfaces respectively adjacent their ends so that the side and end members are substantially coplanar, said side members having longitudinally spaced transverse slots formed in their upper surfaces between the end members, runners disposed transversely of the side members and having their ends seated in the slots with the upper surfaces of the ends flush with the upper surfaces of the side members, the upper surfaces of the runners between the ends thereof being curved in cross-section and raised above the upper surfaces of the ends, locking bars superimposed on the upper surfaces of the side members and releasable locking means encompassing the side members and locking bars to lock the locking bars over the ends of the runners and restrain said locking bars from lateral or longitudinal movement, the ends of the raised upper surfaces of the runners forming shoulders which abut against the inner sides of the locking bars and locate said runners against axial movement.

2. A cattle guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein said locking means includes transverse slot-s formed in the upper surfaces of the locking bars, plates seated in said slots and having their ends extending beyond the inner and outer sides of the locking bars, said extending ends being apertured, and U-bolts tted around the side members and having their free ends disposed through the apertures in the plates, and nuts threaded on the ends of the U-bolts.

3. A cattle guard adap-ted to overlie a pit formed in a gateway of a fence comprising a pair of spaced parallel end members disposed parallel with the fence, a pair of spaced parallel side members disposed transversely thereof and having ends overlying the ends of the end members, means securing the ends together at their point of crossing, said side members having longitudinally spaced transverse slots formed in vtheir upper surfaces between the end members, runners disposed transversely of the side members and having their ends seated in the slots with the upper surfaces of the ends ush with the upper surfaces of the side members, the upper surfaces of the runners between the ends thereof being curved in cross-section and raised above the upper surfaces of the ends, locking bars superimposed on the upper surfaces of the side members and releasable locking means encompassing the side members and locking bars to lock the locking bars over the ends of the runners and restrain said locking bars from lateral or longitudinal movement, the ends of the raised upper surfaces of the runners forming shoulders which abut against the inner sides of the locking bars and locate said runners against axial movement.

LOUIS MAYER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,052,851 Snipes Sept. 1, 1936 2,518,855 Balzer Aug. 15, 1950 

